About
Summary
Dr. Ilka Wallis is an Associate Professor in the College of Science and Engineering at Flinders University, specializing in quantitative hydrogeology and geochemistry. She focuses on reactive transport modeling to integrate hydrogeological, mineralogical, and biochemical processes. Her current roles include Deputy Director of the National Centre for Groundwater Research and Training (NCGRT) and course coordinator for postgraduate groundwater hydrology courses.
Education
- MSc in Hydrogeology, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, Germany (1997)
- PhD in Hydrogeology, Flinders University (2012)
Research Interests
Dr. Wallis’s research addresses groundwater contamination, aquifer recharge, and pollutant fate. Key areas include arsenic mobility, managed aquifer recharge, and PFAS transport modeling. She employs environmental tracers (e.g., helium/tritium) and numerical modeling frameworks to study complex subsurface interactions.
Grants & Projects
- CRC for Transformations in Mining Economies (CRC-TiME): $30M industry-led project addressing mining closure solutions (2019–2029)
- ARC Linkage Grant LP180101153: Investigating faults and barriers in groundwater flow (2019–2022)
- PFAS Mobility Study: Collaborative research with CSIRO and Department of Defence (2019–2021)
Advising & Students
Currently supervises five RHD students on projects including mine dewatering, groundwater recovery scenarios, and PFAS remediation. Past students focused on arsenic immobilization, leachate water quality, and groundwater salinity.
Labs & Collaborations
Collaborates with institutions like the University of Manitoba (Adjunct Professor), CSIRO, and international partners (e.g., Wageningen University). Active in industry partnerships (RioTinto, Water Corporation).
